On the Smaller Red-headed Cardinals.



63



shape, occasionally roundish oval; texture of shell fine, with a

glossy surface; colour, yellowisli-white, speckled particularly

about the upper quarter with spots of dark brown or amber,

intermingled with duller markings which appear as if beneath the

surface of the shell.” ... A clutch consists of two or

three eggs.


Apparently this species occasionally breeds before the

males have attained their full plumage, as the following note,

also from Mr. Campbell’s book, shows :—“ One nest I noticed at

Dandenong Creek, near Bayswater, 22nd October, 1898, containing

a pretty set of three eggs, which were ‘ shepherded’ by a pair of

birds both in grey plumage. This prompted my curiosity, not to

mention the sweet solicitous notes of the birds, so I left the

home untouched. On visiting the locality about a fortnight

afterwards, the same pair of birds were seen in charge, therefore

it is evident that the male birds of this Pachycephala occasionally

breed before they attain their beautifnl yellow breasts and pale

white throats.”


In these days, when aviculturists think nothing of keeping

the most delicate species of insectivorous birds in captivity, there

is no reason why the handsome Thickheads should not be kept,

and let us hope that some enterprising importer will give us an

opportunity of studying them alive in our aviaries.


D. S.-S.



THE SMALLER RED-HEADED CARDINALS.


Paroaria capitata a 7 id P. cervicahs.


By Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D.


When I imported an example of P. capitata in 1893 the

late Mr. Abrahams informed me that it was the Yellow-billed or

Brown-throated Cardinal, that it was an extremely rare bird and

worth about ^3 ; indeed he assured me that he should have no

difficulty in obtaining that price for so good a specimen.


In 1873, as Mr. Wiener informs us, the Zoological Gardens

purchased a pair of these Cardinals, which about that time were

imported now and then, “ but have lately disappeared again



